Flexible pipe coupling



F. W. MARTIN.

FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLIN'G.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5.1919. 1,406,67 1. A Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. W. MARTIN.

FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION HLED Nov.,5. |919.

1,406,671,l Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

- WITNESS: INVENTOR y r j l @22M/2M v I y BY 2 I A TTORNEYS F. W. MARTIN.

' FLEXIBLE Pm: oo uPuNG. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5,1919.

1,406,671 1 Patented Feb. 14,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/NVEN TOR K )gw/mess: j y

' (7 ATTORNEYS ,UNITED srArgsAisur cri-fica FREDERICK W. MARTIN, .0F {MANHATTAL BEACH, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR vT` FRANKLIN RAILWAY SUPPLY COIVIPANY A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented -Feb 174, 1922.

Applicationy filed November', 1919. Serial No." 335,842.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it 4known that I, FREDERICK NV. MAR- TiN, a citizen or' lthe United States, residing at Manhattan Beach, in the county et Kings and `State of New York, have invented certain new and useiiul Improvements in Flexible Pipe Couplings, of which the following n is aY specification.

This invention relates generally to flexible pipe couplings, but more particularly to such joints or couplings as are used for connecting the pipe sections on the engine and tender or" a locomotive or between other vehicles in a train. Connections of this character vare employed, for example, in conducting water, steam orother yiluid'froin one of thevehicles ofthe train toanother7 and it is necessary that they be provided with a sufficient degree of y'flexibility to provide for a ready relative movement betweenzthe said vehicles without leakage at the oints of said iiexible connections, and without interference with other parts of the mechanism.

One of the objects ot this present invention is-the provision of a joint oi' the character specified which will be strong and simple in construction and durable and eilicient in its operation and in which a maximum amount of available rail clearance will be obtained when the device is applied on a locomotive or train. i

Another object of this present invention is the provision of a joint of the character specilied in which the tendency heretofore noticed in devices of this character for the balls to werk loose from the'tubes or pipes on which they are secured will be obviated, and the tendency to uneven wear reduced by the placing` ot the pipes and balls and parts in direct line instead of an offset line as in most of the structures heretofore used. The above as well as such other objects as may hereinafter appear, I obtain by means of a construction which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings. wherein l have shown in- Figure l a longitudinal sectional yicw through the end parts forming a connection between a locomotive and its tender with my apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a t ansverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ot Figure Figure 3 is a transverse sec tional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 5. Figure t is a sectional View on the line 4:-4 oiV Figure Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, a portion of itfbeing shown in side elevation indicating thejdetail oiiny joint arrangement inore specilically, and Figure G isa plan view'oi' therapparatus shown in Figure 5fk 'i i Referring new more particularly to F ig# ures l, 5 and G, it will be seen' that I have therein indicated a casting 7 which islocated at the rear ot the locomotive and forms a means for supporting the casting 8 that. contains the slide joint of my pipe comicofy tion, and also forms a means forattaching the linl; connection 9, the other end ofwhich is securedto tlie't-end'er in a feasting l0.'

tothe fluid pressure conduit in connection.

with which the flexible joint device isto be used. i

Another ball joint 1S is arranged within a sliding head casting let, the laterally pro# jecting ears l5 of which are` carried in grooves 16 shown more in detail in Figure i, and the tubular extension 17 of which enters the cylindrical member r18 and is packed as indicated at 19 by a suitable packing device forming a iiuid pressuretight oint 4through which the member 17 can slide or telescope in and out as the movement between the locomotive and tender requires.

The connection between the balls l2 and 13 is formed by means of a tube constructed 1n two parts 20 and 2l joined together by the castings 22 and 23 and the bolts 24.

The tub 2O is secured to the ball at its end by passing it through a reanied and tightly iitting opening 25 and threading it at 26, the end being reamed over as at 27 in order tc prevent any tendency of the motion of the parts to cause the ball to unscrew from the tube 20. This arrangement ot connection between the ball and tube i'ornis a very secure light weight and eii'icient device at a point which has been subjectto considerable trouble in previous devices.

The arrangement oi the supporting ear l5 carried within the grooif'e 16 so as tc taire the weight of the casting lt which houses the ball 13 not only provides a more secure support for the main body or this slide oint, but also removes any lateral or undue strain upon the slide bearing and packing 19so there is a very much reduced Wear of the joint at this point.

The arrangement of the mechanism on a` direct center line as closely adjacent to the floor of the locomotive and tender as it can be placed Without any depending or vertical branch pipe connection increases to a maximum the clearance available between the under side of the joint members and the rail, and also brings the parts into a straight line position Which will avoid olf set strains or uneven Wear upon the members. v

While I have shown the pipe connecting parts 13 as leading off laterally from the castings With which they are associated, it is obvious that if the space permits, the pipe connecting ends 13 may be secured directly in Vthe ends ot the castings if preferred.

Iclaim:

1. A flexible joint connection comprising in combination, a tubular connecting'member, a flexible bearing at each end 01": said tubular memberJ anda socket casting at each end of said tubular member, one of said socket castings carrying a projection which is telescopically movable with relation to its housing and serves as supporting means for the main or body portion, and a support casting with Which said support means has longitudinally movable relation. ,y

2. A lleXible joint connection having in combination a tubular connecting member, a ball joint at each end of said connecting member, a body casting or head housing one of said ball joints, a sliding extension on said head, packing means for the sliding extension, a cylindrical chamber for receiving the sliding extension, a guide support for the head serving to relieve said sliding eXtension of lateral strain, said several members being arranged in straight line connection,

and Without olifset.

3. A lflexible. connection for a locomotive and .tender having a tubular member provided vvith a ball joint on the locomotive and carried in a sliding head, the latter having telescopic relation with a support casting, the support casting being secured tothe locomotive deck casting and provided with means for slidably supporting the head and means for packing the telescopic joint.

4c. A coupling device for locomotives and tenders Zcomprising in combination a ball joint on the tender and a ball joint on the locomotive, a member connecting said joints, a movable head housing one of thejoints, means Jfor slidably supporting the movable head, a tubular extension communicating With the joint having the movable housing and extending beyond the joint, a conduit Y communicating With the extension and hav- V ingsliding movement With-respect thereto, and means for slida-bly supporting and guiding the movable head servingto relievesaid slidingv extension ot lateral strain, all of saidV members bein@ arranged in straight line connection Without offset.

5. A coupling ofthel character described comprising a hollow connecting member, a flexible joint at each end thereof, an extension on one of said joints, a conduit communicating with the extension, the extension and the conduit having relative sliding movement, and means -for slidably supporting and guiding the flexible joint serving to relieve the extension of lateral strain, all of said members being arranged in straight line position without offset.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FREDERICK W. MARTIN. 

